He also made several communications in favour of the Spanish breed;-as that the fame of the Merino sheep is rapidly im wether, bred by Mr. Tollett, weighed 33ibs. per quarter, and his fleece 5lbs of superfin wool. The wool fair was very numerously attended. The buyers came fuli of arguments derived from what was the state of some branches of the woollen trade several months ago, and by no means disposed to discriminate between the manufactures of tine and coarse wool the sellers came disposed to take considerably lower prices than they had obtained two or three years past. ner; but when washed again, without sort- | ing to the state in which Spanish wool is imported, it sells for 6s. per pound.-The manufacture of superfine cloth, as already mention-proving; that a 3 year old Merino Ryeland ed, has by no means, suffered in consequence of the deranged state of Europe; in particular at Bradford, in Wiltshire, it has been carried to a pitch never known there before. About three or four years ago, his Lordship had visited some of the most extensive and best manufactories (and very excellent they are), in Gloucestershire; and he was every where told that they were not affected by the war, they being fully employed in country trade. The increased consumption of Spanish wool in our manufactures will require an increas- His lordship's statement was acknowledged ed supply; therefore, snpposing the ports of to be fair and candid; but, notwithstanding Spain to be open to us, the supply which we there appeared to be less difference of opinion shall receive this year, (certainly not so abun- between buyers and sellers than usual, they dant as usual), added to the extra quantity did not agree. No business was done at the imported last year, will not exceed the de- fair, nor in the evening.-The wool growers mand so much as to reduce that article below demanded from 2s. to 6s. per tod, less than the usual price; and not a lock of wool can be they demanded last year's fair, and from Is. to expected from the north of Europe, whence 28. more than they had since received. There we have latterly received about 750,000 lbs. is every reason to believe that the good wool annually, while the ports are so strictly will sell from 2s to 2s. 6d. per lb. and some closed against us. His Lordship was sorry, how-higher. The backwardness of the buyers ever, to learn that the woollen inanufacture of Yorkshire has lately been, by no means, in so prosperous a state as that in the West of England; but a very considerable quantity of second rate manufactures of wool has certainly found its way to foreign countries, and every day the dein nd has increased. Indeed all the enemies to British commerce, will never be able to prevent their going where they are wanted, as soon as there is time to contrive the means. But if the exertions of the glorious people of Spain should succeed, as every friend to mankind must wish, the export to Spain and Portugal, and consequently to every part of South America, will raise the woollen manufacture of England, as high as it has ever been; and perhaps, at first, still higher, to make up the deficiency in the supply of woollens for some time past; and the state of the continent of Europe must prevent all competition. It is reasonable therefore, to suppose, that the price of fine wool especially, should not be lower, hut higher, than it was last year; and if the liberation of Spain should take place, and France and the United States should be tired, as it is supposed they the two parties, that the largest growers had are, of silly attempts to prejudice the comasked less money for their fleeces within that merce of this country, there is no reason to doubt but the demand for every kind of wool-room, than they had been sold for afterwards; len goods, will be much greater than it ever has been at any period. His Lordship then exhibited specimens of fine wool grown in England, by Mr. Tollet of Swinnerton-hall; Mr. Portman, of Dorsetshire; and Mr. Hall of Leigh Court; some pure Spanish, others of mixed breed; seemed to be systematic, but, at present, they do not appear to speculate wisely; several events are likely to happen which will raise the price very much, but there is not the least probability of our commerce being placed in a worse situation than it has lately been. This reluctance of buying seems to be very prevalent, for we find that at the meeting at Thetford wool fair, presided by Mr. Coke, the member for the county, on July 16, it was subject to much animadversion. After dinner, he addressed the meeting, observing, "that he had been the first institutor of that annual assembly of the growers and buyers of wool, and that the object he had in view was to save much unnecessary trouble and expence to both, by ascertaining the worth of that staple commodity." He was sorry to observe the buyers keeping away from that room, in which were met the largest proprie tors of flocks in Norfolk and Suffolk, and who only desired a fair price, and a fair profit for their produce. Such was the wish to esta blish a mutual good understanding between and, as one instance, he (Mr. Coke) last year had asked only 60s. per tod for his Southdown fleeces, which although he did not there obtain, he had sold immediately after at 63s. Mr. Coke continued his observations, say ing, since the introduction of Southdown sheep, the flocks had become more equal, 2 S 8 and consequently greatly improved by a mixture of fleeces. He wondered why the buyers should purposely avoid entering the room, where the business of the fair ought to be carried on, and in which case he considered it his duty, as well as that of all other individuals, to give every information in his power. Certainly the buyers, if they should appear, might (and very fairly) assert that there was a probability of the price being lower, because the ports of Spain might continue open to our trade; and that they might ever continue open to British commerce and the Spanish Patriots be successful in the cause of liberty, was his sincere wish, and, he rusted, that of every Englishman. For his part, his only object was, as the chairman of that annual meeting, to give every information in his power, that the growers and the buyers might mutually understand each other, and that a fair traffic, on both sides, might be the result; but, if the latter determined to keep below stairs, and offer no price, trying to annihilate that meeting of the growers, he could assure them, that the respectable and numerous assemblage of gentlemen present, would never be deterred from meeting on this occasion, and that it could be of no consequence to such men whether their fleeces were sold on that day or not, for they were too opulent to be compelled to part with them at an uncertain, and an unknown general price, which ought to be fixed according to the quality."-Mr. Coke then offered his wool at 60s. per tod, and which sum, if not given in that room, he would not accept out of it. Mr. Mosely said, "that he had that morning received letters from Leeds, which stated, that the revolution in Spain had created extraordinary bustle among the manufacturers of that town, but that it seemed to be the prevailing opinion, that the expectations they had formed of purchasing at very reduced prices would not be realized, and that they would have to give more than they now imagined." Mr. Coke stated, and he said with great pleasure, "that the Southdown sheep were now almost universally preferred, and that the Norfolk breed was nearly extinct, and for this good reason, that the Southdown produced nearly double the quantity of wool, and that of a fine quality; that the want of discrimination among the buyers had arisen from their employing those known by the name of middle men, to purchase, by commission, all the wool in separate districts, and that each not going out of that district, they bought what they could, without regarding, in the manner they ought, the quality. He could truly say, he did not wish to use a single expression which could be considered as injurious to the buyers of wool, but that it was his duty also to support the landed interest of the kingdoin', and he was convinced, that to agriculture England owed its glory. Would any one suppose the buyers in Ireland to be so ignorant as to give ten or twelve shillings, or more, per tod, for wool than it was really worth? and did not every one present see, that pur chasers by their conduct were, as mach as possible, discouraging the growth of fine wool, and more particularly by not paying a proper attention to the quality rather than the quantity? Relative to that of an inferior sort, the long wool, he was glad to say, that from Mr. Whitworth's excellent plan of converting it into naval and agricultural uses, instead of hemp, it was rising in price." Mr. Coke concluded by saying, "it was the duty of both parties, cordially to unite for the common benefit, and the independence of the British nation."-56s. per tod was offered to Mr. Harvey, of Culthorpe, for the finest wool, but not accepted. We now proceed to notice Lord Somerville's Sale of Merino Wool and Sheep, which proves that the determination of not buying, though very prevalent, as we have remarked, yet is by no means universal. On Thursday, July 28th. a number of pur chasers attended at Sadler's Repository, Gos well Street, in pursuance of the judici plan announced by the above patriotic nob man, at his last cattle-shew, for commen annual sales of Merino wools and their diffe admixtures. Every person who saw the w in question could not but admire the sucq ful perseverance of those gentlemen who taken so much pains to produce wools-05 first quality, the growth of their own con those of his lordship, which were grease, for fineness of quality stood emine conspicuous. There were altogether al packs of 240 lbs. each, and they were s money in 14 days without discount; the tare being deducted and the usual allow... 4lbs. per pack, as usual with English woo ex Lord Somerville gave an invitation to company present to partake of a chop of ton from a fat wether of his true Merino b This proposal was of course accept about thirty sat down to a very lent repast, and an hour or two w spent by the company in the most animate and interesting conversation on subjects con nected with the business of the day; in the course of which Lord Somerville rose and assured his auditors, that no views to his own individual interest had been allowed to mix in his exertions towards establishing the present sale; for having himself always had the most ample vent for his Merino and Merinocrossed wools, at prices answering his utmost expectations, and having even previously en gaged his wool of this year to the former buyer, Mr. Joyce, he had been actuated by the wish of being serviceable to the possessors of Merino sheep, especially those whose flocks are at present small, by opening a mart, where they might be sure of meeting a price proportionate to the fineness and quality of their improved wools, which seemed an indispensable step to the general spread of Spanish sheep, since the wool-buyers of many districts, particularly where coarse wools prevail, had deemed these small lots of fine wool unworthy of their notice, except at prices utterly beneath their true value. His lordship next adverted to the danger of diminution, if not of annihilation, to which the Merino flocks are at this time exposed, while depasturing in the northern provinces of Spain, by the ravages of contending armies; and argued, that this circumstance ought to redouble the zeal of agriculturists in the growth of Anglo-Merino wool, that had been proved so capable of supplying the place of the native Spanish in the staple manufactures of the country. He then, in order to shew the great degree of fineness which may, in three years, be produced by crossing proper breeds of English sheep with Spanish rams, exhibited a scowered fleece of Hereford and Merino wool, three times crossed, which was pronounced to be of very superior quality. The buyers very generally expressed their approbation of the establishment of this annual sale, and promised a very full attendance next year. Lord Somerville announced for sale a quantity of Merino Sheep, which for superiority in point of breed and number, (being upwards of 50) have never before been equalled in this Country, SUME ACCOUNT OF A JOURNEY TO THE BY I was informed at Jakoutsk by M. Popoff, of merwho is at the head of the company hants of that town, that they had discovered upon the shores of the Frozen Sea, near the mouth of the river Lena, an animal of an extraordinary size; the flesh, skin and hair were in good preservation, and it was supposed that the fossile production, known by the name of Mammoth horns, must have belonged to some animal of this kind. Mr. Popoff had, at the same time, the goodness to communicate a drawing and description of this animal; I thought proper to send both to the president of Petersburgh Academy, The intelligence of this interesting discovery determined me to hasten my intended journey to the banks of the Lena as far as the Frozen Sea, and I was anxious to save these precious remains, which might The contrary winds, which lasted during! I was convinced, while upon the spot that the inhabitants of the North enjoy happiness even in the midst of the frozen regions. But what astonished me still more, was the picturesque view of the opposite side of the Lena. This river, which is one of the largest in Siberia, majestically rolls its waters through the mountainous chain of Verschéjansk it it here, near its mouth, entirely devoid of islands, and much narrower, deeper and more rapid than in any place of its course. The mountains here appear in a great variety of forms; they are of a brilliant whiteness, and of a savage and horrid aspect'; sometimes they represent immense columns which rise into the clouds, sometimes they resemble the ruins of antient forts, and as if they were parts detached from the mutilated remains of grotesque and gigantic figures. Further off the horison is terminated by a chain of high mountains, where eternal snow and ice dart back the rays of the sun. These landscapes are of exquisite beauty; an expert draughtsman would look in vain for similar views in any other place of Siberia; and I am not astonished that the picturesque situation of Kumak-Surka should become the 2S4 object of a national song, known solely on the shores of the Frozen Sea. The course of the winds having at last changed, I thought of pursuing my route, and I had my rein-deer brought across the river. Next day at day-break, I set out, accompanied by a Toungouse chief, Ossip Shoumachoff, and by Bellkoff, a merchant of Schigansk, and attended by my huntsman, three Cossacs, and ten Toungouses. The Toungouse chief was the first person who discovered the Mammoth, and he was proprietor of the territory through which our route lay. Bellkoff the merchant had spent nearly his whole life on the shores of the Frozen Sea. His zeal, and the details he procured me, have the strongest claims to my gratitude: I am even indebted to him for the preservation of my life at a moment of imminent danger. At first I found great difficulty in sitting upon a rein deer; for, the saddle being attached by a girth of leather only, it was very insecure and often occas oned me very disagreeable falls. Besides my position was very inconvenient for want of stirrups, which are never used among the Toungouses. on both sides. The rein-deer perform a On the third day of our journey we pitched Schouinachoff related to me the history of the discovery of the Mammoth in nearly the following terms: "The Toungouses, who are a wandering: people, seldom remain long in one place. Those who live in the forests often spend ten On our route we traversed high and rugged years and more in traversing the vast regions! mountains, valleys which followed the course among the mountains: during this period they of small rivulets, and parched and savage never visit their homes. Each family lives in plains, where not a shrub was to be seen. an isolated state from the rest; the chief takesAfter two days travelling, we at last approached care of them, and knows no other society. the shores of the Frozen Sea. This place is If, after several years absence, two friends: called by the Toungouses Angardam, or Terra meet by chance, they then mutually com-, Firma. In order to attain the Mammoth, it municate their adventures, the various success was necessary to traverse another isthmus called of their hunting, and the quantity of peltry Bykoffskoy Mys or Tumut. This isthmus, they have acquired. After having spent some which projects into a spacious gulf, is to the days together, and consumed the little proright of the mouth of the Lena, and extends visions they have, they separate cheerfully, as I was informed, from south-east to north-charge each other with compliments for their east for about 30 or 35 wersts*. Its name is probably derived from two points in the form of horns, which are at the northern extremity of this promontory. The point on the left hand, which the Ru-sians call by way of eminence Bykoffskoy-Mys, on account of its great extent, forms three vast gulfs, where we find some settlements of Jakouts: the opposite point, called Alaustach on account of the great quantity of floating wood found "It is to one of these annual excursions of upon its shores, is one half smaller; its shore the Toungouses that we are indebted for the is lower, and this district is completely in-discovery of the Mammoth. Towards the end habited. The distance from one point to the other is estimated at four leagues and a half, or 45 wersts. Small hills form the higher part of the peninsula of Tumat; the remain der is o cupied by lakes, and all the low grounds are marshy. The isthmus we have mentioned is so narrow at some places that the sea may be seen 10 wersts are equal to 6 English geographical miles. respective friends, and leave it to chance to of August, when the fishing in the Lena is the midst of a rock of ice an unformed block, which did not at all resemble the floating pieces of wood usually found there. In order to examine it more closely, he clambered up the rock and examined this new object all around; but he could not ascertain what it was. The year following he discovered on the same spot, the carcase of a sea-cow (Trichecus Rosmarus.) He perceived at the same time that the mass he had formerly seen was free from the ice, and by the side of it he remarked two similar pieces, which he afterwards found were the feet of the Mammoth. About the close of the next summer, the entire flank of the animal and one of the tusks had distinctly come out from under the ice. On his return to the shores of the Jake Onroul, he communicated this extraordinary discovery to his wife and some of his friends; but their manner of regarding the subject overwhelmed him with grief. The old men related on this occasion, that they had heard their forefathers say, that a similar monster had formerly shown itself in the same peninsula, and that the whole family of the person who discovered it had become extinct in a very short time. The Mammoth, in consequence of this, was unanimously regarded as auguring a future calamity, and the Toungouse chief felt so much inquietude from it, that he fell dangerously ill; but becoming well again, his first ideas suggested to him the profit he might gain by selling the tusks of this animal, which were of an extraordinary size and beauty. He therefore gave orders to conceal carefully the place where the Mammoth was and to remove all strangers from it under various pretexts, charging at the same time some trusty dependents not to suffer any part of this treasure to be carried away. Two years afterwards, being the seventh from the discovery of the Mammoth, a fortunate circumstance occasioned my visit to these distant and desert regions, and I congratulate myselt on having it in my power. to ascertain and verify a fact, which would otherwise be thought so improbable. I found the Mammoth still upon the same slope, but completely mutilated. The prejudices against it having been dissipated, because the Toungouse chief had recovered his health, the carcase of the Mammoth might be approached without any obstacle: the proprietor was content with the profit he had already derived from it, and the Jakouts of the neighbourhood tore off the flesh, with which they fed their dogs. Ferocious animals of the north pole,white bears, gluttons, wolves, and foxes-preyed upon it also, and their burrows were seen in the neighbourhood. The skeleton, almost completely unfleshed, was entire, with the exception of one of the fore feet. The spondyle, from the head to the os coccygis, a shoulder-blade, the pelvis, and the remains of the three extremities, were still tightly attached by the nerves of the joints, and by strips of skin on the exterior side of the carcase. The head was covered with a dry skin; one of the ears, well preserved, was furnished with a tuft of bristles. All these parts must necessarily have suffered by a carriage of 11,000 wersts. The eyes, however, are preserved, and we can still distinguish the ball of the left eye. The tip of the under lip has been eaten away, and the upper part, being destroyed, exhibited the teeth. The brain was still within the cranium, but it appeared dry. The parts least damaged are a fore foot and a hind one; they are covered with skin,' and have still the sole attached. According But the summer being colder and more to the assertion of the Toungouse chief, the windy than usual, kept the Mammoth sunk animal had been so large and well fed, that in the ice, which scarcely melted at all that its belly hung down below the knee joints, season. At last, about the end of the This Mammoth is a male, with a long mane fifth year afterwards, the ardent desires of at his neck, but it has no tail and no trunk. Schoumachoff were happily accomplished: The skin, three-fourths of which are in my the ice which inclosed the Mammoth being possession, is of a deep gray, and covered partly melted, the level became sloped, and with a reddish hair and black bristles. The this enormous mass, pushed forward by its humidity of the soil where the animal has own weight, fell over upon its side on a sand-lain so long, has made the bristles lose some bank. Of this two Toungouses were witnesses who accompanied me in my journey. In the month of March 1804, Schoumachoff came to his Mammoth, and having got his horns cut off, he changed them with Baltounoff the merchant for merchandize of the value of 50 roubles. On this occasion a drawing of the animal was made, but it was very incorrect; they described it with pointed ears, very small eyes, horses' hoofs, and a bristly mane along the whole of his back; so that the drawing represented something between a pig and an elephant." of their elasticity. The entire carcase, the bones of which I collected upon the spot, is 4 archines and a half high by 7 long, from the tip of the nose to the coccyx, [about 9 feet high by 14 feet long,] without however comprehending the two horns, each of which is a toise and a half long, and both together weigh 10 pouds [nearly 400 pounds]. The head alone weighs eleven pouds and a half [4 cwt.] The principal object of my care was to separate the bones, to arrange them and place them in safety: this was done with the most |